Development Status of Mono-Propulsion System for Active Debris Removal
- Paper number
IAC-22,C4,8-B4.5A,1,x68924
- Author
Dr. Asato Wada, Japan, ASTROSCALE JAPAN Inc.
- Coauthor
Mr. Shigeyasu Iihara, Japan, ASTROSCALE JAPAN Inc.
- Coauthor
Dr. Shitan Tauchi, Japan, ASTROSCALE JAPAN Inc.
- Coauthor
Mr. Koji Shimmi, Japan, ASTROSCALE JAPAN Inc.
- Coauthor
Mr. Eijiro Atarashi, Japan, ASTROSCALE JAPAN Inc.
- Coauthor
Mr. Yusuke Kobayashi, Japan, ASTROSCALE JAPAN Inc.
- Year
2022
- Abstract
In order to remove larger debris of satellites and rocket upper stage, we have been researched and developed the spacecraft for active debris removal (ADR). One of the world’s first technology demonstration of removing the large-scale debris by Astroscale Japan’s spacecraft, called ADRAS-J spacecraft, from orbit at phase I of Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration Project (CRD2) mission by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the launch of ADRAS-J spacecraft is scheduled by the end of FY2022. For our missions, the propulsion system is necessary to have the propulsive functions of rendezvous and collision avoidance capability at proximity operation and proximity approach with target. At the same time, the propellant has advantages of both higher combustion characteristics and lower environmental loading that there are low toxicity and user friendly for expanding our commercial removal service missions. Thus, in this project, the propulsion system with ADRAS-J has been selected the ammonium-dinitramide based mono-propulsion system. The ammonium-dinitramide based monopropellant, called green monopropellant, demonstrated with various missions of PRISMA and ELSA-d. In comparison with hydrazine, the lower toxicity and higher density-specific-impulse are advantage, and the propellant consumption efficiency can be increased while maintaining the same delta-V. The propulsion system is designed based on the well-developed ELSA-d propulsion system and updating the design of system because the propulsive performances meet the requirements specification of minimum impulse bit and delta-V. The ADRAS-J propulsion system mainly consists of twelve 1N-class thrusters and blowdown monopropellant feed system. This paper discusses the current development status of green mono-propulsion system for ADRAS-J and the general specification of propulsive performance characteristics for Astroscale’s future missions as one of the results which the trade-off evaluations of propulsion system were conducted.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-22,C4,8-B4.5A,1,x68924.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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